A new TiO2-β-SiC material for use as photocatalyst

A new medium surface area TiO2-beta-silicon carbide (beta-SiC) material was obtained by the Shape Memory Synthesis (SMS) method in which a pre-shaped high surface area activated charcoal (AC) supporting TiO2, obtained by a sol-gel process starting from an alkoxide precursor, was attacked by SiO vapor at 1300degreesC under dynamic vacuum. A post-synthesis oxidation using the inertness of beta-SiC towards oxidation led to the TiO2-beta-SiC material. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.